China Xiniya Fashion Limited Reports 2012 Third Quarter Earnings

XIAMEN, FUJIAN, China, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- China Xiniya Fashion Limited ("Xiniya" or the "Company"NYSE: XNY), a leading provider of men's business casual apparel in China, today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2012. The financial statements and other financial information included in this press release have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS").

The Company publishes its financial statements in Renminbi ("RMB").

Third Quarter 2012 Highlights

• Revenue in the third quarter of 2012 increased by 15.7% to RMB417.9 million, as compared to RMB361.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, which exceeded the prior guidance of 8%-11%.
• Gross margin was 34.5% in the third quarter of 2012 as compared to 34.4% in the third quarter of 2011.
• Profit before taxation in the third quarter of 2012 declined by 21.1% to RMB74.8 million as compared to RMB94.8 million in the third quarter of 2011.
• Net profit in the third quarter of 2012 declined by 21.4% to RMB56.4 million as compared to RMB71.8 million in the third quarter of 2011.
• Earnings per ADS were $0.16 in the third quarter of 2012 as compared to $0.19 per ADS in the third quarter of 2011, and exceeded prior guidance of $0.09-$0.11 per ADS.
• Xiniya's network of authorized retailers had a net addition of 20 new retail outlets in the third quarter of 2012, consisting of 79 new retail outlets opened and 59 retail outlets closed, bringing the total number of authorized retail outlets to 1,679 as of September 30, 2012.
• As of September 30, 2012, the Company, Mr. Qiming Xu - Xiniya's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Chee Jiong Ng - Xiniya's Chief Financial Officer, have purchased, through the public market pursuant to a written plan, an aggregate of $1,385,787, $153,968 and $38,490 worth of ADSs, respectively, or 830,226, 92,259 and 23,076 ADSs, all at an average price of $1.67, in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Recent developments

• The Company announced that the total value of purchase orders for its 2013 Spring and Summer Collection showcased during its biannual sales fair held in September 2012 in Xiamen, China increased by 2% as compared to the total value of purchase orders placed in September 2011. In an effort to ensure the long-term, sustainable development of its authorized retail outlets, the Company reduced prices on its 2013 Spring and Summer Collection by an average of 2.2% to improve the price competiveness of its products beginning in 2013. As a result, the Company's gross margin for its 2013 Spring and Summer Collection is expected to decline by approximately 2.2%.
• The Company announced the opening of its sixth and seventh flagship stores in Urumqi City, Xinjiang Province and Shenyang City, Liaoning Province. Both stores were opened and are operated by Xiniya's distributors.

Guidance

• Revenue in RMB for the fourth quarter of 2012 is expected to increase by 4%-7%.
• Earnings per ADS in the fourth quarter of 2012 are expected to be in the range of $0.17 –$0.19.
• The Company reiterates guidance for net additions of retail outlets for 2012 to be more than 100.       

"On the back of continued store expansion and the rapid conversion of our authorized retailer- managed retail outlets, we were able to beat guidance with another strong quarter of top line revenue growth," said Mr. Qiming Xu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite the economic softening in China, we were able to adapt to the current situation and push through numerous initiatives we have put in place to ensure the long-term, sustainable development of our business. Following our bi-annual sales fair in September 2012, where the total value of purchase orders grew slightly despite distributors' and authorized retailers' cautionary approach, we reduced the prices on our collections to improve the price competitiveness of our products, improve product turnover and reduce inventories during the slowdown. We conducted training courses for distributors and authorized retailers to strengthen retail management and enhance profitability as the refurbishment of our existing retail outlets continued as we adjust our image to meet changing consumers taste. We are pleased with the flexibility we have shown during the quarter as we push through these difficult times. I remain confident in our ability to seek new growth opportunities as we enhance our brand value and provide our customers with the high-quality products they have come to expect."

Third Quarter 2012 Results

Revenue for the third quarter of 2012 was RMB417.9 million, compared with revenue of RMB361.1 million for the third quarter of 2011, which represents a 15.7% increase. The Company delivered approximately 2.0 million units during the third quarter of 2012, which is similar to the number of units delivered during the same period last year. The total retail outlet count as of September 30, 2012 was 1,679. The table below sets forth the number of retail outlets by outlet type:

Although total outlet count increased by a net addition of 72 units since December 31, 2011, the number of outlets managed by department store chains decreased by 317 outlets. Of these 317 department store chain managed outlets, 301 outlets were converted to authorized retailer- managed retail outlets. This conversion was mainly due to the change in the business model used by the regional department store chain operators. In an effort to streamline their business, the regional department store chain operators shifted their business model focus from retailing directly to customers to leasing department store concession areas to retailers.  

Gross profit increased to RMB144.3 million in the third quarter of 2012 from RMB124.4 million in the third quarter of 2011. Gross margin was 34.5% in the third quarter of 2012 as compared with 34.4% in the third quarter of 2011. 

Interest and other income was RMB5.5 million in the third quarter of 2012 as compared to RMB8.5 million in the third quarter of 2011. The decrease was mainly due to the reduction in exchange gains of RMB3.0 million in the third quarter of 2012.

Selling and distribution expenses in the third quarter of 2012 increased to RMB71.1 million from RMB32.3 million in the third quarter of 2011 mainly due to increases in rack expenses for authorized retail outlets of RMB24.6 million, training expenses of RMB4.4 million, advertising and promotional expenses of RMB4.2 million, brand consultancy fees of RMB3.5 million, sales fair expenses of RMB0.9 million, flagship store expenses of RMB0.6 million, and freight and packing expenses of RMB0.6 million.

• Since July 2011, as part of the Company's overall strategy to unify the image of its authorized retail outlets, the Company has been paying for shop rack, signage and various outlet-related accessories for authorized retail outlets opened or refurbished on or after July 2011. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company paid for shop rack, signage and various outlet-related accessories for 79 new retail outlets and refurbished 90 retail outlets, including expanding floor space for two existing retail outlets.  The refurbishment of existing retail outlets is expected to upgrade the older retail store image, help to attract consumers into the retail stores, help to improve presentation of our apparel products to consumers and, eventually, enhance retail outlet sales. These expenses were approximately RMB39.6 million, or 9.5% of revenue, in the third quarter of 2012,  compared to RMB15.0 million, or 4.2% of revenue during the third quarter of 2011.  
• The increase in training expenses related to consultancy fees paid to external professional trainers for training provided to our distributors and authorized retailers across China. These training courses are expected to strengthen retail outlet management in the areas of retail inventory management, retail outlet managers and staff, and retail sales management. Also, these training courses are expected to enhance retail sales and to help to reduce inventory levels at the retail channels.
• Advertising and promotional expenses were RMB16.7 million in the third quarter of 2012, arising mainly from billboard advertisements placed by the Company across 20 provinces in China and an advertising campaign on Channel 12 of China Central Television.
• Sales fair expenses were RMB2.5 million in the third quarter of 2012, arising mainly from the sales fair in Xiamen City, Fujian Province in September 2012.
• Flagship store expenses were RMB1.1 million in the third quarter of 2012, arising mainly from the two flagship stores operated by the Company and five other flagship stores opened and operated by distributors.

Administrative expenses decreased to RMB3.9 million in the third quarter of 2012 from RMB5.8 million in the third quarter of 2011. This was primarily due to the beneficial exchange rates between RMB and United States dollars which resulted in translation exchange gains for the third quarter of 2012, compared to translation exchange losses for the second quarter of 2012.

Profit before taxation was RMB74.8 million in the third quarter of 2012, compared with RMB94.8 million in the third quarter of 2011.  

Income tax expense in the third quarter of 2012 was RMB18.4 million, compared with RMB23.0 million in the third quarter of 2011.  

Profit after taxation for the third quarter of 2012 was RMB56.4 million, compared with RMB71.8 million in the third quarter of 2011.  Earnings per ADS were $0.16 in the third quarter of 2012, compared to $0.19 per ADS in the third quarter of 2011.

Financial Position

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB0.8 billion, and time deposits held at banks with maturity over three months of RMB220.0 million.

As of September 30, 2012, the Company had trade receivables of RMB373.5 million, arising entirely from sales during the third quarter of 2012.  Trade receivables outstanding as of June 30, 2012 have been fully collected as of September 30, 2012.

Inventory as of September 30, 2012 was mainly related to finished goods produced from orders placed during the April 2012 sales fair, which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Other receivables and prepayments on September 30, 2012 increased compared to balances on December 31, 2011, primarily due to prepayments for advertising and promotional expenses associated with the billboard advertisements in 20 provinces across China and for commercial air time on China Central Television's Channel 12.

Other payables and accruals at September 30, 2012 increased compared to balances at December 31, 2011, primarily due to deposits collected from distributors for April and September 2012 sales fair orders.

Conference Call

Xiniya will host a conference call and live webcast at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on November 20, 2012 (9 p.m. Beijing time on the same day).

The toll free dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows:

- USA: 1866 549 1292
- China:  800 876 8626
- Hong Kong: 3005 2050
- International access: +852 3005 2050

Participant PIN Code: 448615#

A live webcast of the conference call will be available in  http://www.mzcan.com/cancast/us/index.php?id=usXNY_1&version=e

A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the end of the conference through November 27, 2012 at 8 a.m. EST.

The dial-in details for the replay are as follows: 

U.S. toll free number: 1866 753 0743
China toll free number: 800 876 5016
Hong Kong toll free number: +852 3005 2020

Conference ID: 168218#

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "target," "going forward," "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law.

Exchange Rate Information

The United States dollar ($) amounts disclosed in this press release are presented solely for the convenience of the reader. Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars for the convenience of the reader were calculated at the certified exchange rate of $1.00 = RMB6.284 on September 30, 2012 as set forth in the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into $ at that rate on September 30, 2012, or at any other date. The percentages stated are calculated based on RMB amounts.

About China Xiniya Fashion Limited

Xiniya is a leading provider of men's business casual apparel in China. The Company designs and manufactures men's business casual and business formal apparel and accessories, which are marketed under the Xiniya brand, and sells through its distribution network that includes 29 distributors. Its products are sold to consumers at over 1,600 authorized retail outlets owned and managed by third parties located in 21 provinces, five autonomous regions, and four municipalities in China. This retail network focuses on second and lower-tier cities, where increasing affluence has led to an improvement in living standards and where most international men's apparel brands do not have a significant presence. The Company's target consumers are male working professionals in China between the ages of 25 and 45 who seek fashionable clothing to suit their working and lifestyle needs. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://ir.xiniya.com.

For additional information, please contact:

China Xiniya Fashion Limited
Mr. Chee Jiong Ng
Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: +86 1365 5939 932
Email: [email protected]

Christensen
Ms. Kimberly Minarovich
Telephone: +1 212-542-0795 in New York
Email: [email protected]

Or

Mr. Christian Arnell
Telephone +86 10 5826 4939 in Beijing 
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE China Xiniya Fashion Limited